AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Michael Redd is becoming
another weapon in an already potent arsenal for the Milwaukee
Bucks.

Redd scored 21 points as the Bucks extended their season-high
winning streak to eight games and continued their dominance of
Central Division rivals with a 97-79 victory over the Detroit
Pistons.

A 2000 second-round pick out of Ohio State, Redd was limited to
just six games in his rookie season due to knee tendinitis. But
healthy this season, Redd has become a factor off the bench.

On Monday, Redd fell one point shy of matching his career high,
making 8-of-18 shots off the bench in 32 minutes.

"If I keep my defense on a high level that's how I'm going to
stay on the floor with coach (George) Karl," Redd said.

"There's no question he's playing better than we thought he
would play," Milwaukee coach George Karl said. "He is playing
some very special basketball for us."

Sam Cassell and Ray Allen, part of an explosive backcourt,
combined for 34 points for the Bucks, who took control in the
first quarter by racing to a 34-15 lead. They held a 55-37 edge
at halftime.

Center Joel Przybilla, a 2001 first-round pick, had career highs
of 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Bucks improved to 11-1
against divisional foes this season.

Jerry Stackhouse netted 19 points for Detroit, which had won
three of its last four games but fell back below the .500 mark
at 19-20.

Allen has been scorching from the field of late, especially from
beyond the arc, and made sure Milwaukee got off to fast start.

He scored 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the
Bucks raced to a 21-8 lead less than eight minutes into the
contest. He finished 6-of-16 from the field, going 3-of-8 from
3-point range en route to 16 points.

In his last seven games, Allen is shooting 64 percent (37-of-58)
from the arc.

Cassell made two free throws with 21 seconds remained in the
quarter, giving the Bucks a 34-15 bulge. The Pistons were
horrible from the field in the quarter, missing 17-of-21 shots.

"It was important that we didn't have to play catch-up
basketball today," Allen said. "We jumped on them early and that
was the biggest key to the game."

In their last two games, the Pistons have dug themselves an
early hole, getting outscored by a combined 67-37 in the opening
quarter.

"Once again, the slow start was our undoing," Pistons coach Rick
Carlisle said. "The energy at the beginning of the game has to
be better and the guys need to recognize the importance of
following the game plan to a tee."

Detroit was horrible from the field all afternoon, shooting just
36 percent (29-of-80). Stackhouse and Corliss Williamson were
the main culprits, going a combined 7-of-31.

"It was just one of those nights. You don't want to have them
but it happened," Stackhouse said. "They hit shots and we
didn't. It's always going to be tough for us to win games when
all three of us (Clifford Robinson and Williamson) are
struggling."

The Pistons tried to battle back in the second quarter, scoring
the first nine points. But the Bucks were able to regain
control and took a 46-28 lead with 5:39 left in the half on a
jumper by Redd.

Allen had 15 points in the half as the Bucks held an 18-point
bulge.

As they did early in the second quarter, the Pistons got hot for
a stretch and used a 17-4 surge to end the third period, pulling
within 69-60. But they got no closer thereafter.

The Bucks regained control as Redd and Mason made baskets to
start the fourth quarter and a jumper by Cassell stretched the
margin to 78-64 with 7:17 remaining.

Led by the 7-1 Przybilla, who usually sees limited minutes even
though he starts, the Bucks held a commanding 55-38 rebounding
advantage. Przybilla played 29 minutes and clearly outplayed
the 6-10 Clifford Robinson in the post.